 |
Wherever you live, there is a selection of both domestic and wild edible plants available. They are not all sold in the marketplace. It is time to learn what foods grow around you. Here are over 1500 pages describing nearly 2800 edible plants. Peak Oil is a wordwide phenomena, approaching disaster proportions. Transportation may be an early victim and you should know what is edible nearby. The same goes for any other disaster. Here is where you begin learning. Ues these books for reference or field guides. |
This is the Edible Plants Series Page. It is an annotated directory linking to each book’s detail page. There, you will find a book description, ordering information for all editions of that book, Table of Contents, and excerpts from that book.
While I was writing the first book of the Disaster Preparedness Series, I mentioned to Fern that I should add a chapter on the foods available around us.
She said, “I can do that.” We already had a 2000 sq ft greenhouse for ornamental and edible plants and it became her laboratory for proving these books for the next eight years. It's all described in Farming Is Easy . . .
 |
People get lost and starve in the wilderness. How can this be? Here are 961 identified wild plants that are edible. It is time to stop going on camping trips, where everything is transported as if you were going to another planet. Find out what is edible around you. What about at home. We go into the garden and chop out or -ugh- spray all those things called weeds. You could be killing what should go on your dinner table. We often have salads from the "weeds" that abound ( like it or not) in our garden. The reference book lists plant sources if you want some "imported" wilds or weeds at your place. |
Eight years later, I got my wish, except the Chapter had become five books, about 1500 pages, and about 3000 plants. The plants are nearly all illustrated, too. When she could not find a photo, or we could not take one ourselves, she drew the plant. (That is what artists do). The CD edition of each book makes a perfect place to use our Auto-Index (TM)
The first book I expected was Edible Wild Plants and Weeds. It is a two volume set and is the most popular book in the Series. It works for a camping trip, a walk in the park, around the house, wherever. You have little idea how nourishing that patch of weeds can be, or what is edible along the trail. Lost and hungry? No problem if you have read the book.
During our pioneering days, people on wagon trains used to gather rabbit and deer droppings to prevent scurvy and thicken their soup. You need not go that far with these books.
To order these books, go to the Detail page for each book by clicking on the linked titles . Excerpts from each book are linked to the book's page.
 |
Why not decorate your yard with plants that are edible? Or why not learn which plants you already grow can grace your dinner table. Here are 978 plants, many of which you already know, that can serve up a tasty meal. The 448 page book contains 328 color photographs and drawings. It is becoming popular to grow ornamentals that use less water. We should also select those that may give us a ready food supply. |
The second book is just as revealing only it describes the edible plants found in your garden. How many Edible Landscape Plants and Trees in the garden did you grow for appearance and color without knowing that you could also eat them? There is plenty to eat out there. Have you ever heard the saying, "water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink"? Well, you can also say, "food, food, everywhere and not a bite to eat." That is, unless you have read these books.
 |
We rely on herbs and seasoning plants to give us the food flavors that we love, no matter where or which country they originated. Here is the basic reference for growing them and using them in the kitchen. Here is a start, with 576 identified plants on 362 pages, with 312 color photographs and drawings. Not all food seasonings come from little cans, purchased in the market. Many seasoning plants may grow in your garden. It is time to learn what and where seasoning plants can grow and have a pallette of seasonings in your garden, or even in a window box. |
We have spent considerable time describing edible plants. What about seasonings? Your family has a selection of seasonings that they are used to, but there are plenty more out there. Here is a book that describes Edible Herbs and The Plants That Add Flavor even identifying them by local, regional, or foreign names.
 |
Each year in the Spring, many of us select vegetable seed packets for our food garden. Many times, the seeds die; the plants never- or poorly produce, and we have another poor harvest- Back to the market for our food. To germinate, do those seeds require a higher temperature, light or darkness, presoaking, soil pH value ( Soil pH governs the amount of soil nutrition the plant can take up.), more or less watering? We need to know these things to be successful with seeds and even plants. Here it is, all in one book for successful gardening and eating. Peak Oil may make this information even more vital to your disaster preparedness. This may be your survival book. |
In a disaster situation, a three day emergency food supply is likely not enough - witness Katrina. You may have to rely on what you can grow or what is already growing nearby. There is a reason that most survival kits include vegetable seeds, but if you do not know how to grow them, you may be in serious trouble. All of the books tell how to propagate and grow the plants. They even contain a cross referenced catalog of plant sources. Some disasters will cause you to evacuate, but plants grw everywhere and you still need to eat, wherever you are.
All of the Series Books have a separate CD edition, and will in time also be published as Ebooks.
To Order this Book, go to any book's Detail page, or to the Ordering page.
Home
This page describes the copyrighted books of Ralph Ritchie and Fern Ritchie.
November 30, 2006